A M-W-F digest, replete with #Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB content, gathered from reputable sources. Evers takes over for Chance, Lefebvre and Lasorda duke it out, and other stories. Guess the identity of our pictured birthday player and win 5,000 BCB points.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a light-hearted, Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past, with plenty of the lore and various narratives to follow as they unfold over the course of time. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow along.
“Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — Tom Connolly.
Today in baseball history:
- 1883 – At a meeting between the American Association and the National League, the Tripartite Agreement (or “National Agreement”) is drafted. In it the two leagues, along with the minor league Northwestern League, agree to respect each other’s contracts, ending a brief period of player raids. Also, the reserve rule is amended to allow each team to reserve 11 players, an increase of six. The National Agreement will usher in a period of peaceful coexistence, lasting until the Players League war of 1890. (2)
- 1891 – The American Association withdraws from the National Agreement thus starting a war with the National League. The AA moves its Chicago team to Cincinnati to compete with the National League team in the city. (2)
- 1909 – The National League deprives umpires of the power to fine players and decrees that relief pitchers must retire at least one batter before being relieved. (2)
- 1924 – Frank Chance, signed as Chicago White Sox manager three months ago, resigns because of illness. Coach Johnny Evers is named acting manager until Chance returns, but the former Cubs star never recovers. (2)
- 1964 – Former White Sox SS Luke Appling is elected into the Hall of Fame in a run-off ballot, after finishing first in the earlier regular vote. In 1953, Appling’s first year of eligibility for Cooperstown, the Sox great received just two votes. He holds the single-season highest batting average for his position, hitting .388 in 1936. (1,2)
- 1980 – While taping separate interviews at KNBC-TV studios in Burbank, CA, Giants coach Jim Lefebvre and Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda trade punches after a brief argument, leaving Lasorda with a bloody lip. Lefebvre had been a Dodger coach in 1979 until he was fired by Lasorda. (2)
- 2003 – His body temperature having soared to 108 degrees, Orioles 23-year-old pitching prospect Steve Bechler dies of multi-organ failure after a spring training workout yesterday. Early speculation is the expectant father’s death may have been caused by ephedrine, a dietary supplement linked to heat stroke and heart attacks. (2)
Cubs birthdays: Doyle Lade, Mike Campbell, Cody Ransom, Esteban Quiroz.
Today in History:
- 1461 – Wars of the Roses: Second Battle of St Albans – Lancastrian army defeats Yorkists and recaptures King Henry VI.
- 1568 – Treaty of Adrianople of 1568: Representatives of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II and Ottoman Sultan Selim II agree to a peace plan ending the war between the Habsburg monarchy and the Ottoman Empire; Maximilian agrees to provide a cash “present” and ruling authority is granted to the Ottomans in Transylvania, Moldavia, and Wallachia.
- 1880 – Alexander II of Russia survives an assassination attempt.
Common sources:
- (1) — Today in Baseball History.
- (2) — Baseball Reference.
- (3) — Society for American Baseball Research.
- (4) — Baseball Hall of Fame.
- (5) — This Day in Chicago Cubs history.
- (6) — Wikipedia.
- (7) — The British Museum.
- For world history.
*pictured.
Some of these items spread from site to site without being verified. That is exactly why we ask for reputable sources if you have differences with a posted factoid. We are trying to set the record as straight as possible. But it isn’t brain surgery.
Also, the ‘history’ segment is highly edited for space and interest. Of course a great many other things happened on those days. We try to follow up on the interesting or unfamiliar ones.
Thanks for reading.